WordPress Content Model: The Future of Custom Post Types?

To create custom fields in WordPress, you typically need a plugin, and the most popular choice is Advanced Custom Fields (ACF).

However, Automattic is working to integrate custom fields directly into WordPress Core with a new feature called Content Model.

We thought this feature was coming inside WordPress 6.7 – that didn’t happen. But you can still test out and use Content Model, you just need to download the plugin via Automattic’s Github.

TL;DR: How Content Model Works In WordPress

⚙️

Native Custom Fields – Manage custom fields directly in WordPress Core, no need for plugins like ACF.

🎯

Dynamic Content Made Simple – Create templates (Content Models) for structured data like team members, products, or listings.

📦

Seamless Integration – Easily connect fields to dynamic content and display them effortlessly on your site.

💻

Streamlined Workflow – Perfect for teams and clients who need an easy way to update content without breaking layouts..

🛠️

Scale Content Faster – Simplifies content management, making WordPress more powerful and beginner-friendly.

What is Content Model?

Content Model is WordPress’s new feature for managing custom fields, built directly into WordPress Core. It simplifies creating and managing dynamic content, eliminating the need for third-party plugins like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF).

With Content Model, you can create dynamic templates — called content models — that define custom fields for specific types of content.

This lets you add structured data, like product details, team directories, or book reviews, directly within WordPress.

Now, you can already do all of this (and more) with plugins like ACF, so you might be wondering what exactly is the point of Content Model?

Adding this to core, making it a default capability of WordPress, means that it will evolve over time, get more useful with new features and capabilities.

Currently, Content Model is a little sparse features-wise, so I don’t think CrocoBlock or ACF will be losing any sleep over it right now.

As Content Model continues to develop, its potential and range of applications will only expand. Once it’s added to WordPress Core (possibly in the next update), it’s likely to become the go-to solution for anyone new to custom fields.

Why? Because it’s built right into WordPress!

Using native WordPress functionality instead of plugins isn’t just more convenient—it’s also better for your site’s performance and speed. Fewer plugins mean less bloat, faster load times, and a smoother experience overall.

How Does Content Model Work?

⚙️

Creating Content Models

With the plugin activated, you can create custom content models, such as “Team Members” or “Books.” Each model can have custom fields for specific information (e.g., name, role, book title, rating). This allows users to easily add, edit, or display structured content without breaking the site layout.

🎯

Dynamic Content Management

Content Models provide a seamless way to manage content dynamically. For instance, if you’re building a directory for team members, you can create a content model with fields like name, title, and photo. The model ensures that new entries automatically match your site’s layout and style.

📦

Integration with the Query Block

The WordPress Query Block can pull data directly from these content models, displaying dynamic content (e.g., all team members or book reviews) based on your settings. This eliminates the need for manual updates or complex queries, making it easier to showcase structured data.

💻

Customizable Fields and Layouts

Content Models let you define custom fields that store data for each entry. For example, a “Book” content model could have fields for title, author, genre, and rating. These fields are saved as part of the model and can be displayed or modified as needed.

Practical Use Cases For Content Model

If you’re new to custom fields, they’re incredibly useful. They help you manage your site more efficiently as it expands and evolves.

Plus, when paired with dynamic data, custom fields can make your posts and pages more interactive and engaging for your readers.

Still unsure? Here’s some examples of how custom fields (either with something like AFC or Content Model) can be used to expand the functionality of your site.

Team Member Directories

Running a company website? Keeping a “Meet the Team” page up to date can be a pain, especially if you’re editing each section manually.

With a Team Member Content Model, you just fill out a few fields—name, role, bio, and photo—and boom, they’re live.

Need to update someone’s role or remove a former employee? It’s as simple as editing or deleting their entry, and the design stays intact.

Why It Matters:

You save time because you’re not tweaking layouts every time someone joins or leaves.

The design stays clean and professional, no matter how many changes you make.

Real Estate Listings

If you manage a real estate website, Content Models can handle listings effortlessly. Create fields for things like location, price, number of bedrooms, and photos.

When you have a new property, just plug the details into the model, and it’s automatically formatted for your site.

Why It Matters:

You spend less time setting up each property listing.

Visitors get a consistent experience, which makes browsing easier.

Product Catalogs

If you sell products, managing all the specs and details can get messy fast.

With a Product Content Model, you can set up fields for specs like dimensions, weight, price, and even reviews.

Anytime you add a product, it automatically fits your site’s design, so you’re not wasting time tweaking layouts for every item.

Why It Matters:

Faster product updates mean less time managing your site and more time focusing on sales.

Your site looks polished because every product is formatted the same way.

4. Book Reviews

Have a blog or site focused on books? Instead of creating a new page or post from scratch every time, a Book Content Model lets you set up fields for the title, author, rating, and review.

You can quickly add new books to your site, and they’ll look great without any extra effort.

Why It Works:

No more copy-pasting or worrying about formatting.

Updating reviews or adding new books is quick and painless.

Is Content Model Better Than ACF / Things To Keep In Mind…

Looking to build sites faster? Check out Ollie Pro for over 200+ professionally designed blocks, patterns, CTAs, post and page types!

The Content Model plugin offers a promising look at WordPress’s future, making dynamic content management simpler and more native to WordPress Core.

However, it’s still in an experimental phase, and that comes with important limitations.

Current Limitations

Stability Issues: The plugin may have bugs, performance problems, or compatibility issues with themes and other WordPress components.
Experimental APIs: Key features are labeled as __experimental, meaning they could change or break without notice.
Functional Constraints: Limited by WordPress’s existing post type and taxonomy structures, with challenges in reusability and theme integration.
Performance Risks: May affect site speed, especially on slower servers.

Is It Right for You?

For now, Content Model is best suited for testing and experimentation. It’s not ready for production sites due to potential instability, limited documentation, and lack of standardization.

If you’re curious, try it on a staging site to explore its capabilities safely. Or, take it for a spin in the WordPress Playground – that’s what I did.

As it evolves, Content Model could become a useful tool in the WordPress core, but for now, approach with caution and watch for future updates.